M&S boss must fix catwalk or walk the plank

Monday, February 17, 2014 - 02:58

Feb. 17 - The fate of Marks & Spencer CEO Marc Bolland will be sealed by whether he can get womenswear to lure shoppers back into stores. A cash back is only a short term solution, says Mintel's Richard Perks

▲ Hide Transcript

▶ View Transcript

Since -- a ball small Balinese Tate beat strides in 2014 if he wants to keep this jolt. Since becoming chief executive in 2010 he's rebounds stores and high fresh talent. Despite his assets underlying general merchandise sales of the UK's largest clothing retailer have pulled in ten courses. In a -- the problem premises is the witness but not true that's been going well and they've been this way he's got this segment of Brown's the -- -- the -- Still to -- job shareholders will be conservative. Patients and they should begin to lose patience as well because he he's been a long enough and he has not that the. And you women's way team including styled right of the Linda RL former chief executive of DeVon just. Nice to steer a small amounts of market share in the third quarter of 2013. But warm weather and excessive pre Christmas discounts you across the high streets post feminist as far as suits damaging margins. Bonus to be a strategic plan to address decades of under investment and -- cool and it's into an international multi channel we -- Has been scaled back to achieve sales of between ten point eight -- and an eleven point four billion pounds by march. Sometimes claim this target looks ambitious plus annual profits are expects to full for a third consecutive time. 628. Million pounds that's 18%. Less than a decade a day and for the first time that. That's been the annual profits made by next. Investors have taken notes. Stone minuses next school was an almost perfect on the school which suggests very strong and a sentiment towards the stock. And then also has a no on school of 29 suggesting any -- I'll put on his traditions unlikely. Although -- shares rose 25%. Last -- style -- return on net operating assets says each -- of deteriorating performance. And it -- doesn't level in the group releases bullion numbness and may he may have to offer cash returns to keep shareholders happy. The cash but is social -- solution on what good is out and do the key is the business itself he's got to make up business for full. On anyone who buys them and ask for a cash back is just. Bone -- guess a helping hand from an improving UK economy with the wages finally starting to outpace inflation. MS is also launching a new web platform and made any comments -- to these online sales. International revenue should also begin to accelerate given a pipeline of nearly a 150 story innings by 2018. Plus the group's food business expected to continue to shine. How -- that it's include being on the catwalk with Arnold so draw shoppers into stores that will ultimately ECU ball in space. And -- all -- it is.

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest international multimedia news provider reaching more than one billion people every day. Reuters provides trusted business, financial, national, and international news to professionals via Thomson Reuters desktops, the world's media organizations, and directly to consumers at Reuters.com and via Reuters TV. Learn more about Thomson Reuters products: